Standing
Strong
Atlantic City Local 24 members show unparalleled
strength to rise above state takeover
By Mitchell Krugel
Photo by Jim Connolly
Well they blew up the police department in AC this year
And they blew off Local 24 members, too
Down on the Boardwalk, they’re still fighting the good fight
Law enforcement officers doing what they always do
Now, the trouble has bussed in from the state
And the mayor can’t get no relief
But they’re still helping the kids down at the PAL
And officers are hangin’ on by the skin of their teeth
The governor is crying, baby that’s a fact
But PBA Local 24 members just keep coming back
So put your uniform on even though life’s not pretty
Because they’re standing strong in Atlantic City
Nucky Johnson couldn’t do it, so neither will Chris Christie nor
the NJ State Legislature. The Municipal Stabilization Recovery Act
that the state enacted in May 2016 to begin the state takeover of
Atlantic City might have been a collective kick in the you-know-
whats for the members of PBA Local 24, by forcing as much as
30 percent salary reductions, taking away coverage when getting
injured on the job and eliminating Civil Service and collective
bargaining. And State PBA President Pat Colligan naturally ran
into an angry mob when he met with Local 24 members early in
September.
But under that anguish, he soon discovered the resiliency and
dedication that has been stabilizing this city long before Nucky
ever rumbled on the promenade. When Local 24 President Matt
Rogers and State Delegate Keith Bennett put out the call to mem-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 30
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ SEPTEMBER 2017 29